What do you think?
Rate this book
Darkhaven #2
Goldenfire
In Darkhaven, peace doesn’t last long.
Ayla Nightshade has ruled Darkhaven for three years. With the help of Tomas Caraway, her Captain of the Helm, she has overcome her father's legacy to find new confidence in herself and her unusual shapeshifting abilities.
Yet three years ago, a discovery was made that could have profound consequences for the Nightshade line: a weapon exists that can harm even the powerful creatures they turn into. And now, that knowledge has fallen into the wrong hands.
An assassin is coming for Ayla, and will stop at nothing to see her dead.
Ayla Nightshade has ruled Darkhaven for three years. With the help of Tomas Caraway, her Captain of the Helm, she has overcome her father's legacy to find new confidence in herself and her unusual shapeshifting abilities.
Yet three years ago, a discovery was made that could have profound consequences for the Nightshade line: a weapon exists that can harm even the powerful creatures they turn into. And now, that knowledge has fallen into the wrong hands.
An assassin is coming for Ayla, and will stop at nothing to see her dead.
- GenresFantasyRomanceParanormal
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2016
6 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
A.F.E. Smith
11 books93 followersI'm a full-time editor, a part-time daydreamer and a constant scribbler. I have a three-year-old son (known to the internet as Small) and a baby girl (known, perhaps predictably, as Tiny). Things I like include snacks, books, complex maths problems, snacks, animated films and snacks. Send me chocolate and I'll be your forever friend. I also happen to be a robin some of the time, but you shouldn't let that bother you.
My debut novel, DARKHAVEN, is out now from Harper Voyager. It's a fast-paced fantasy whodunnit featuring love, murder and obsession, carriage chases, duels to the death and a very angry Wyvern, set in a unique city in the throes of industrial revolution. Coming soon to an ebook reader near you :-)
----------
A note on my book ratings: these are murky waters and I'm new to navigating them. I just want to give everything five stars to avoid hurting people's feelings (see, this is why I don't usually review stuff) but obviously that's neither helpful nor honest. So I've elaborated a bit on the Goodreads descriptions below, and if you're wondering, this is how I use my stars!
5 stars ('it was amazing'): reserved for books I love so much that I've read them more than once. Message: buy it now! Then talk to me about it!
4 stars ('really liked it'): a great book that I'd certainly recommend to others. May become a 5-star book, given time. Message: buy it.
3 stars ('liked it'): a good book. It was enjoyable - I don't feel that I wasted my time reading it - but I'm not going to rush out and evangelise about it either. Message: buy it, if it sounds like your kind of thing.
2 stars ('it was ok'): a book I have mixed feelings about. There was nothing terribly wrong with it, but it left me feeling meh. Message: borrow it from a friend.
1 star ('didn't like it'): reserved for books that, for me, had serious problems with plotting, characterisation and/or the basic rules of the English language. Sorry, but if a book is absolutely full of 'typos' then it will end up here, because I like some care to have gone into what I read. Message: avoid.
My debut novel, DARKHAVEN, is out now from Harper Voyager. It's a fast-paced fantasy whodunnit featuring love, murder and obsession, carriage chases, duels to the death and a very angry Wyvern, set in a unique city in the throes of industrial revolution. Coming soon to an ebook reader near you :-)
----------
A note on my book ratings: these are murky waters and I'm new to navigating them. I just want to give everything five stars to avoid hurting people's feelings (see, this is why I don't usually review stuff) but obviously that's neither helpful nor honest. So I've elaborated a bit on the Goodreads descriptions below, and if you're wondering, this is how I use my stars!
5 stars ('it was amazing'): reserved for books I love so much that I've read them more than once. Message: buy it now! Then talk to me about it!
4 stars ('really liked it'): a great book that I'd certainly recommend to others. May become a 5-star book, given time. Message: buy it.
3 stars ('liked it'): a good book. It was enjoyable - I don't feel that I wasted my time reading it - but I'm not going to rush out and evangelise about it either. Message: buy it, if it sounds like your kind of thing.
2 stars ('it was ok'): a book I have mixed feelings about. There was nothing terribly wrong with it, but it left me feeling meh. Message: borrow it from a friend.
1 star ('didn't like it'): reserved for books that, for me, had serious problems with plotting, characterisation and/or the basic rules of the English language. Sorry, but if a book is absolutely full of 'typos' then it will end up here, because I like some care to have gone into what I read. Message: avoid.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Read
January 19, 2016ETA: the mysterious L appears to have been removed, so I've taken off my star rating too :-)
I don't like to rate my own book. I didn't do it for Darkhaven. I'll remove the rating as soon as I have enough genuine ratings that the one star contributed by a troll doesn't skew things so much.
(How do I know L is a troll? Their 17,330 ratings at the time of writing, all one star, rather give the game away. Plus this book isn't even available for review yet, and I don't flatter myself that there's anyone out there who hates my writing with such a burning passion that they feel the need to express that fact in advance.)
I don't like to rate my own book. I didn't do it for Darkhaven. I'll remove the rating as soon as I have enough genuine ratings that the one star contributed by a troll doesn't skew things so much.
(How do I know L is a troll? Their 17,330 ratings at the time of writing, all one star, rather give the game away. Plus this book isn't even available for review yet, and I don't flatter myself that there's anyone out there who hates my writing with such a burning passion that they feel the need to express that fact in advance.)
February 7, 2017
RTC... though (obviously) I loved it! Suspenseful and cleverly crafted, Goldenfire is a massive step up from Smith's debut, Darkhaven. It also left me with a big goofy smile, and a desperate urge to read more in this series.
January 15, 2016
It has been a tough battle to finally gain the inner strength she needed to rule Darkhaven. Ayla Nightshade has had to overcome her own insecurities, the legacy her father left behind and to come to terms with her ability to shapeshift into a much feared protector. Now, almost the last Nightshade, it is up to her to see their bloodline lives on, but these are dangerous times and her life could be forfeit to her enemies. Does she have the allegiance of her armies to keep her safe and protect the kingdom? Even with her special guard, there are ways to slip past their forces and while she becomes a prisoner in her own castle, the hunt is on to find the hired assassin as shocking discoveries are made that will make the enemy almost invincible.
There now exists a weapon of death that has no mercy. The only way to fight fire with fire is to find a way to gain access to as many as possible and train her warriors in a way of battle that seems less than honorable. In a world where loyalty either comes from the heart or gold coins, it is possible a traitor is in the midst and one unlikely female steps forward to serve, protect and uncover the treachery
Meanwhile Alya struggles with her own doubts about those around her, can she even trust the one who claims to love her?
Goldenfire by A.F.E. Smith is a journey into a dark fantasy world where war is more common than peace, treachery more common than trust and safety is almost impossible. Follow Alya, her captain of the Helm and Naeve Sorrow as they race against time and treachery to save Darkhaven and the powers of the Darkhaven bloodline. With great care to detail, a truly “otherworldly” feel and characters too numerous to count, A.F.E. Smith’s tale comes to life with a heart that one can almost hear beating!
As in great fantasy, there are plots and subplots all woven together into an intricate tale of epic proportions as reality fades away. Immerse yourself in a wondrous world and realize that, even in fantasy, there are too many parallels to our reality.
I received an ARC edition from Harper Voyager in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Darkhaven - Book 2
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January 14, 2016
ISBN: 9780008103514
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Print Length: 400 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
There now exists a weapon of death that has no mercy. The only way to fight fire with fire is to find a way to gain access to as many as possible and train her warriors in a way of battle that seems less than honorable. In a world where loyalty either comes from the heart or gold coins, it is possible a traitor is in the midst and one unlikely female steps forward to serve, protect and uncover the treachery
Meanwhile Alya struggles with her own doubts about those around her, can she even trust the one who claims to love her?
Goldenfire by A.F.E. Smith is a journey into a dark fantasy world where war is more common than peace, treachery more common than trust and safety is almost impossible. Follow Alya, her captain of the Helm and Naeve Sorrow as they race against time and treachery to save Darkhaven and the powers of the Darkhaven bloodline. With great care to detail, a truly “otherworldly” feel and characters too numerous to count, A.F.E. Smith’s tale comes to life with a heart that one can almost hear beating!
As in great fantasy, there are plots and subplots all woven together into an intricate tale of epic proportions as reality fades away. Immerse yourself in a wondrous world and realize that, even in fantasy, there are too many parallels to our reality.
I received an ARC edition from Harper Voyager in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Darkhaven - Book 2
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January 14, 2016
ISBN: 9780008103514
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Print Length: 400 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 19, 2016
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for giving this book to review.
Goldenfire is a really good sequel set a couple years after Darkhaven, which left me on the edge of my seat as there was so much going on, lots of POV and a real page turner. There is action, romance and well written three dimensional characters with their own strength and flaws. I found the alchemy in this story interesting. However, while there were a lot of twists I guessed the assassin much easier than I did the mystery in the previous books.
Ayla is more confident in this book but does keep judging herself compared to her father and his rule, and she therefore has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility of ruling. Tomas is still loyal and determined but we also see him as a clever leader even though he does not see this as he has lots of insecurities about himself. I really like how mature and realistic Ayla and Tomas relationship is and shows they love each other while they still argue.
There are so many characters in this book, with people from the last book, Elisse and Sorrow, as well as the new Helm recruits like Ree, Zander and Penn. I was annoyed with Serenna’s character as in the last book she was willing to consider leaving being a priestess for Myrren but not for her own child, I felt that really did not fit her character.
I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to more novels in this world. I would recommend Goldenfire to fans of the first book Darkhaven.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Goldenfire is a really good sequel set a couple years after Darkhaven, which left me on the edge of my seat as there was so much going on, lots of POV and a real page turner. There is action, romance and well written three dimensional characters with their own strength and flaws. I found the alchemy in this story interesting. However, while there were a lot of twists I guessed the assassin much easier than I did the mystery in the previous books.
Ayla is more confident in this book but does keep judging herself compared to her father and his rule, and she therefore has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility of ruling. Tomas is still loyal and determined but we also see him as a clever leader even though he does not see this as he has lots of insecurities about himself. I really like how mature and realistic Ayla and Tomas relationship is and shows they love each other while they still argue.
There are so many characters in this book, with people from the last book, Elisse and Sorrow, as well as the new Helm recruits like Ree, Zander and Penn. I was annoyed with Serenna’s character as in the last book she was willing to consider leaving being a priestess for Myrren but not for her own child, I felt that really did not fit her character.
I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to more novels in this world. I would recommend Goldenfire to fans of the first book Darkhaven.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
August 6, 2016
Darkhaven
, the first book in this series, was a surprise. Billed as a secondary-world fantasy with a murder mystery, I was all-in by the end of the synopsis and A.F.E. Smith delivered on the promise of the blurb and the cover of the book and I was completely smitten with the world and the characters. As such, Goldenfire had a lot to life up to. And it did, bringing back characters I love, introducing new ones and once again centring on a mystery, this time more on who will do it, than on whodunnit.
My one criticism of Darkhaven was that the world beyond the city walls of Darkhaven felt fuzzy and indistinct. In Goldenfire however, the scope of the world broadens and we learn much more about what lies outside the walls in Mirrorvale and we even spend time abroad in Sol Kardis. And if Darkhaven’s politics seem relatively straight-forward, if murky, those we encounter in Sol Kardis are positively byzantine and as a result quite exciting. It is in Sol Kardis where we find Naeve Sorrow and Elisse caring for Elisse’s son and Ayla’s half-brother Corus. While Sorrow’s storyline is mainly about the political scheming in Sol Kardis, I really enjoyed the scenes between her and Elisse and the small family unit they’ve created with the three of them.
The assassination plot at the heart of the novel allows for wonderful character development on several levels. Ayla and Tomas are not just lovers, they are also ruler and captain of her guard and these different roles create a lot of tension between them, especially as they are still working out how their relationship works. But they are also forced to grow separately, Ayla in her role as ruler and more importantly magic user and Tomas in his role as captain of the Helm. An added complication in their relationship is their son Marlon. Marlon isn’t their natural son, but Ayla’s nephew, but they’ve agreed to raise him as their own. Yet where Tomas takes to being Marlon’s father as a duck to water, loving him easily and fully, Ayla has a hard time seeing Marlon instead of his dead father. Opening her heart and becoming a true family is incredibly difficult for her, which given her history isn’t surprising. Smith develops this arc beautifully and ties it up quite satisfyingly.
I have a soft spot for training narratives, whether it is a good training montage, a story set at a school, or an apprenticeship story, they are all gravy to me. And in Goldenfire I got to for the price of one. On the one hand there are Ayla’s magic lessons with Miles and their quest to figure out how her magic actually works. On the other hand there is the new cohort of Helm trainees we get to follow through their training with weaponmaster Art Bryan and Tomas. Just as an aside, I adore the relationship between Bryan and Miles—loving, stable and equal. The trainees’ storyline is told mainly from the viewpoint of Ree Quinn, the first female Helm trainee in history, but not the only one in her cohort, because there is Saydi as well. I loved how Smith looked at Ree’s reaction to Saydi’s presence, her anger and indignation and her worry that Saydi will hurt her chances for advancement, thinking they’ll never let two women into the Helm proper after training. Ree knows her feelings aren’t pretty, but she can’t help herself. I loved Ree and the other recruits and their storyline was a highlight of the book for me.
Goldenfire took everything I loved about Darkhaven and improved upon it. I really enjoyed Smith’s storytelling and writing and I can’t wait to find out what will happen next. If you love epic fantasy, but have a hard time getting through the big fat fantasy versions, A.F.E. Smith’s fast-paced Darkhaven books are just the ticket for you.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
My one criticism of Darkhaven was that the world beyond the city walls of Darkhaven felt fuzzy and indistinct. In Goldenfire however, the scope of the world broadens and we learn much more about what lies outside the walls in Mirrorvale and we even spend time abroad in Sol Kardis. And if Darkhaven’s politics seem relatively straight-forward, if murky, those we encounter in Sol Kardis are positively byzantine and as a result quite exciting. It is in Sol Kardis where we find Naeve Sorrow and Elisse caring for Elisse’s son and Ayla’s half-brother Corus. While Sorrow’s storyline is mainly about the political scheming in Sol Kardis, I really enjoyed the scenes between her and Elisse and the small family unit they’ve created with the three of them.
The assassination plot at the heart of the novel allows for wonderful character development on several levels. Ayla and Tomas are not just lovers, they are also ruler and captain of her guard and these different roles create a lot of tension between them, especially as they are still working out how their relationship works. But they are also forced to grow separately, Ayla in her role as ruler and more importantly magic user and Tomas in his role as captain of the Helm. An added complication in their relationship is their son Marlon. Marlon isn’t their natural son, but Ayla’s nephew, but they’ve agreed to raise him as their own. Yet where Tomas takes to being Marlon’s father as a duck to water, loving him easily and fully, Ayla has a hard time seeing Marlon instead of his dead father. Opening her heart and becoming a true family is incredibly difficult for her, which given her history isn’t surprising. Smith develops this arc beautifully and ties it up quite satisfyingly.
I have a soft spot for training narratives, whether it is a good training montage, a story set at a school, or an apprenticeship story, they are all gravy to me. And in Goldenfire I got to for the price of one. On the one hand there are Ayla’s magic lessons with Miles and their quest to figure out how her magic actually works. On the other hand there is the new cohort of Helm trainees we get to follow through their training with weaponmaster Art Bryan and Tomas. Just as an aside, I adore the relationship between Bryan and Miles—loving, stable and equal. The trainees’ storyline is told mainly from the viewpoint of Ree Quinn, the first female Helm trainee in history, but not the only one in her cohort, because there is Saydi as well. I loved how Smith looked at Ree’s reaction to Saydi’s presence, her anger and indignation and her worry that Saydi will hurt her chances for advancement, thinking they’ll never let two women into the Helm proper after training. Ree knows her feelings aren’t pretty, but she can’t help herself. I loved Ree and the other recruits and their storyline was a highlight of the book for me.
Goldenfire took everything I loved about Darkhaven and improved upon it. I really enjoyed Smith’s storytelling and writing and I can’t wait to find out what will happen next. If you love epic fantasy, but have a hard time getting through the big fat fantasy versions, A.F.E. Smith’s fast-paced Darkhaven books are just the ticket for you.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
January 19, 2016
3.5/5
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I enjoyed the first volume of the Ayla’s adventures and it’s true that I was curious to see what happened to her after the end of the novel which put her on the throne of Darkhaven. It must be said that the end of the previous novel was not necessarily very gay, and our heroine was left with many consequences to be considered.
Three years have passed, although I confess that I have not really felt it at the beginning the novel and Ayla is always there to govern with the help of her lover, Tomas. But now, the enemies are legion, and it appears that they now know how to put the woman dowm to take her throne. With the characters we have previously discovered, such as Naeve, our heroes will learn that an assassin was sent to kill Ayla. The whole story turns on this fact and more precisely on Tomas’ investigation while following the tracks and it is true that the revelations still managed to surprise me at the end regarding the culprit.
I enjoyed the novel and I had a great time with the story as well as the investigation even if it’s true that I found some passages a little long. Yet this is not really disturbing because the dynamics of the book makes us really want to know more and to know the truth about what is happening. We also focuse on the recruits of the Helm trying to understand who is the killer between them. Thus we take pleasure in discovering the different characters, some with deep resentment toward Darkhaven and it was interesting to see how they evolved gradually.
We also go back in time a few times to understand how our characters got there. In any case, it’s nice to see Ayla, Tomas and Marlon (you will discover who he is) together and see that they finally got to create a life that suits them even if it is true that the determination of Ayla and her desire for freedom are sometimes dangerous.
A nice second volume as the first one.
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I enjoyed the first volume of the Ayla’s adventures and it’s true that I was curious to see what happened to her after the end of the novel which put her on the throne of Darkhaven. It must be said that the end of the previous novel was not necessarily very gay, and our heroine was left with many consequences to be considered.
Three years have passed, although I confess that I have not really felt it at the beginning the novel and Ayla is always there to govern with the help of her lover, Tomas. But now, the enemies are legion, and it appears that they now know how to put the woman dowm to take her throne. With the characters we have previously discovered, such as Naeve, our heroes will learn that an assassin was sent to kill Ayla. The whole story turns on this fact and more precisely on Tomas’ investigation while following the tracks and it is true that the revelations still managed to surprise me at the end regarding the culprit.
I enjoyed the novel and I had a great time with the story as well as the investigation even if it’s true that I found some passages a little long. Yet this is not really disturbing because the dynamics of the book makes us really want to know more and to know the truth about what is happening. We also focuse on the recruits of the Helm trying to understand who is the killer between them. Thus we take pleasure in discovering the different characters, some with deep resentment toward Darkhaven and it was interesting to see how they evolved gradually.
We also go back in time a few times to understand how our characters got there. In any case, it’s nice to see Ayla, Tomas and Marlon (you will discover who he is) together and see that they finally got to create a life that suits them even if it is true that the determination of Ayla and her desire for freedom are sometimes dangerous.
A nice second volume as the first one.
March 20, 2016
Firearms come to Darkhaven, and there's an assassination threat against Ayla Nightshade that throws the tower into chaos. If you like fast paced fantasy adventure with greyscale morality but an overriding sense of justice, or with relationships and romances (including LGB couples) that are both beautiful and flawed, or simply packed with characters who are all too human, then this is a must-read. Full review to follow.
January 10, 2016
This continuation of the Darkhaven series was quite fun. The author deftly juggled all the different characters and threads, bringing everything to a satisfactory conclusion.
Personally, I was really happy about the reappearance of Naeve Sorrow.
Also, my gosh, such gorgeous covers.
Everybody should buy this book so I can read more of this series.
Personally, I was really happy about the reappearance of Naeve Sorrow.
Also, my gosh, such gorgeous covers.
Everybody should buy this book so I can read more of this series.
May 20, 2016
Goldenfire is kind of a perfect sequel, I'm not going to lie to you all! I love how seamlessly it continues on from the first book, and I read this straight after the first one so I should know! I just loved how the main thing with the assassin was as a direct result of events and discoveries in the first book and I loved how the whole thing with the guns showed how things where changing in the world of the book, how the guards would have to train with them and how Tomas's training may become obsolete with this new weapon. It was such a great touch and really helped to carry the story further, I think!
There where so many plot threads in this one again! Each of the threads smoothly came together to create yet another gripping plot. You have to try to work out who the assassin is and much like the first book, I found I knew for certain who it wasn't, but there where a couple of suspects, and I kept changing as more and more clues where dropped, and then I had the answer, but then I changed my mind and then I just kept switching my suspect until it was revealed and it was such a great chase the author lead me on! I loved how even if you do guess the right person...you're still not 100% sure, there's always the possibility you're wrong. There's so many clues and hints to put together and no matter if you guess correctly or not you're still going to be surprised.
We meet a lot of new characters in the book, I'm unsure if there is going to be a third book but I hope there is because I'm excited to see what's become of some of the new characters we met! Ree is the first female hoping to be accepted in to the Helm and has to deal with a lot of ribbing from the boys, I wasn't sure if she was going to be all dodgy at one point, but I was happy that she defied stereotype/expectation/trope and helped Ayla when she needed it. We have Zander who ends up being very, very interesting and I'm desperate to know what happens to him next! Miles is another interesting addition, he wasn't entirely above suspicion for me, but he helped Ayla to make some rather interesting discoveries, that should there be a third book, could make things very interesting. The other new character I want to mention is Penn, I had him pegged from the start but I was surprised how things turned out with him, he was another example of things being connected back to the first book so that the two carried on perfectly! He was another complex character, you see his struggle and you feel for him and then he does the thing and you're like oh Penn...I was really hoping you wouldn't. But you still kind of feel for him and I really want to see what happens next with him!
Much like the first book, all the secondary characters are brought to life just as much as the main characters and are just as complex, and I think there's loads more to be discovered from them! You're probably dying to know about our favourite characters from the first book at this point! I was disappointed in the character of Serenna for her actions, I'm not going to lie, and we don't see much of Elisse, although how things ended have left me curious to what's going to happen to her and Corus! I'm hoping for a third book and assuming if there is one it'll jump to him being of age. BUT ANYWAY, not much of them, and I was kind of sad, but then Elisse was kind of being stupid with Corus's safety, I got it, I understood completely but at the same time I was like "This is so not going to end well for you!"
Things being how they where with Serenna we have a new addition and I felt so much for Ayla, she did the right thing, but Marlon was a horrible reminder of her brother, and I thought it was such a genuine situation and her actions were so sadly understandable, but I loved watching her overcome it all in the end! Ayla has grown even more in this book! You kind of see the extent to which she was shaped by her father, believing she's a disappointment and being half a Changer is nothing, when she's working with Miles and they make some discoveries she had no idea about! It's an interesting game changer shall we say! Tomas is now Captain of the Helm and I loved seeing how far he'd come, but he was still not entirely sure of himself when it came to he and Ayla and he doubted himself and the fact he's not perfect helps to bring him even more to life! I still can't believe they weren't married yet! Their romance had developed and I was just so gleeful at the end of the book!
Sorrow is also back, and she just cracked me up, especially at the end. I was just kind of like...well then...typical Sorrow! We didn't see as much of her as I'd have liked, I don't know about you guys! I mostly just loved how she was doing the right thing and helping them without actually being paid, she went through quite a bit to help as well! Character development is a beautiful thing!
In the sequel we see more of the world of the book, not as much, but enough to get a feel for the place and I'm sure we'll be seeing it again in a third book. We also learn so much more about Darkhaven and how it's created, and I'm wondering/hoping, it's going to come in to play in the future. I'm so intrigued by the implications! There's so much detail in this book as well, in the links between the assassin and Ayla, Penn and Tomas, the alchemy mentioned in the book, the discoveries made. The author really has a gift for putting in all the detailed without boring you, or slowing the pace of the book. This book was just as fast paced as the first, and the tension ramps up as you near the end of the book, I was on the edge of my seat as things played out, unsure what was going to happen. I mean...we all read Game of Thrones, we've all come to learn the harsh truth that no character is ever safe, and I was genuinely tense for the entire last part of the book.
The multiple POV's continue with the chilling addition of the unknown assassin and said assassin's letters back to their employer. I read these with particular scrutiny but the author made no slips, and gave nothing away. Not even a gender! I loved the layer this added to the story, more clues, more suspense, more intrigue! I also loved the little journeys in to the page to see how events then, where influencing things in the present.
Goldenfire smoothly continues on the story, as more knowledge of Changers and Darkhaven comes to light, new threats also make themselves known. You can forgive the book it's longer passages because the entire time you're reading your desperate to know more. More about the world, the characters and the plot as well as get answers to the many questions you have. The author gives us another fantastic mystery, with plenty of clues for you to puzzle over, yet still managing to surprise you when all is revealed, I just love how the author gives you so many threads and brings them all together smoothly and in such an engaging manner. I'm really hoping there is a third book, because there are plenty of things that have been left a little bit open and I can picture such great things for a third book!
There where so many plot threads in this one again! Each of the threads smoothly came together to create yet another gripping plot. You have to try to work out who the assassin is and much like the first book, I found I knew for certain who it wasn't, but there where a couple of suspects, and I kept changing as more and more clues where dropped, and then I had the answer, but then I changed my mind and then I just kept switching my suspect until it was revealed and it was such a great chase the author lead me on! I loved how even if you do guess the right person...you're still not 100% sure, there's always the possibility you're wrong. There's so many clues and hints to put together and no matter if you guess correctly or not you're still going to be surprised.
We meet a lot of new characters in the book, I'm unsure if there is going to be a third book but I hope there is because I'm excited to see what's become of some of the new characters we met! Ree is the first female hoping to be accepted in to the Helm and has to deal with a lot of ribbing from the boys, I wasn't sure if she was going to be all dodgy at one point, but I was happy that she defied stereotype/expectation/trope and helped Ayla when she needed it. We have Zander who ends up being very, very interesting and I'm desperate to know what happens to him next! Miles is another interesting addition, he wasn't entirely above suspicion for me, but he helped Ayla to make some rather interesting discoveries, that should there be a third book, could make things very interesting. The other new character I want to mention is Penn, I had him pegged from the start but I was surprised how things turned out with him, he was another example of things being connected back to the first book so that the two carried on perfectly! He was another complex character, you see his struggle and you feel for him and then he does the thing and you're like oh Penn...I was really hoping you wouldn't. But you still kind of feel for him and I really want to see what happens next with him!
Much like the first book, all the secondary characters are brought to life just as much as the main characters and are just as complex, and I think there's loads more to be discovered from them! You're probably dying to know about our favourite characters from the first book at this point! I was disappointed in the character of Serenna for her actions, I'm not going to lie, and we don't see much of Elisse, although how things ended have left me curious to what's going to happen to her and Corus! I'm hoping for a third book and assuming if there is one it'll jump to him being of age. BUT ANYWAY, not much of them, and I was kind of sad, but then Elisse was kind of being stupid with Corus's safety, I got it, I understood completely but at the same time I was like "This is so not going to end well for you!"
Things being how they where with Serenna we have a new addition and I felt so much for Ayla, she did the right thing, but Marlon was a horrible reminder of her brother, and I thought it was such a genuine situation and her actions were so sadly understandable, but I loved watching her overcome it all in the end! Ayla has grown even more in this book! You kind of see the extent to which she was shaped by her father, believing she's a disappointment and being half a Changer is nothing, when she's working with Miles and they make some discoveries she had no idea about! It's an interesting game changer shall we say! Tomas is now Captain of the Helm and I loved seeing how far he'd come, but he was still not entirely sure of himself when it came to he and Ayla and he doubted himself and the fact he's not perfect helps to bring him even more to life! I still can't believe they weren't married yet! Their romance had developed and I was just so gleeful at the end of the book!
Sorrow is also back, and she just cracked me up, especially at the end. I was just kind of like...well then...typical Sorrow! We didn't see as much of her as I'd have liked, I don't know about you guys! I mostly just loved how she was doing the right thing and helping them without actually being paid, she went through quite a bit to help as well! Character development is a beautiful thing!
In the sequel we see more of the world of the book, not as much, but enough to get a feel for the place and I'm sure we'll be seeing it again in a third book. We also learn so much more about Darkhaven and how it's created, and I'm wondering/hoping, it's going to come in to play in the future. I'm so intrigued by the implications! There's so much detail in this book as well, in the links between the assassin and Ayla, Penn and Tomas, the alchemy mentioned in the book, the discoveries made. The author really has a gift for putting in all the detailed without boring you, or slowing the pace of the book. This book was just as fast paced as the first, and the tension ramps up as you near the end of the book, I was on the edge of my seat as things played out, unsure what was going to happen. I mean...we all read Game of Thrones, we've all come to learn the harsh truth that no character is ever safe, and I was genuinely tense for the entire last part of the book.
The multiple POV's continue with the chilling addition of the unknown assassin and said assassin's letters back to their employer. I read these with particular scrutiny but the author made no slips, and gave nothing away. Not even a gender! I loved the layer this added to the story, more clues, more suspense, more intrigue! I also loved the little journeys in to the page to see how events then, where influencing things in the present.
Goldenfire smoothly continues on the story, as more knowledge of Changers and Darkhaven comes to light, new threats also make themselves known. You can forgive the book it's longer passages because the entire time you're reading your desperate to know more. More about the world, the characters and the plot as well as get answers to the many questions you have. The author gives us another fantastic mystery, with plenty of clues for you to puzzle over, yet still managing to surprise you when all is revealed, I just love how the author gives you so many threads and brings them all together smoothly and in such an engaging manner. I'm really hoping there is a third book, because there are plenty of things that have been left a little bit open and I can picture such great things for a third book!
January 19, 2016
http://lynns-books.com/2016/01/18/gol...
Very strong four. Highly enjoyable second in series.
Goldenfire is the second in the Darkhaven series by A F E Smith. This was a great second book in series, I really enjoyed it, in fact on reflection I think it surpassed the first in terms of growth of characters and world building.
Darkhaven is, and has always been, ruled by the Nightshades – a family that through the generations has been able to shapeshift. Unfortunately over the years the Nightshade line has diminished leaving the City in a vulnerable position in terms of those who would seek to make war.
A quick note: I will try to avoid spoilers for book No.1 but undoubtedly they will creep into this review so please be aware of that if you haven’t yet started the series.
At the start of Goldenfire Ayla has been ruling Darkhaven for three years. She’s more confident in her abilities now and the relationship she shares with Tomas Caraway, her ‘hero’ from book No.1 and now Captain of the Helm, is a tentative but happy one. However, their tranquility is about to be upset. An assassination plot has come to light and given the discovery (from the first book) of a weapon that can harm the Nightshades this threat needs to be taken very seriously.
The story this time breaks down into a number of strands. We have Tomas rushing around trying to cover every base in terms of threat. Ayla is spending time trying to increase her own fighting prowess and also looking into further ways to protect herself using alchemy. We have the reintroduction of Sorrow, an assassin and sellsword who is working for a member of the Brotherhood – a secretive, powerful and very dangerous group of individuals. And then we have a number of new recruits who have signed up for Helms training and are being put through their paces. I confess that I loved this aspect of the story.
Fairly early on in the story we are introduced to the assassin – or at least when I say introduced, we are made a party to the assassin being sent to kill Alya. What we are not told is that person’s identity.
At the same time we then make the acquaintance of the latest recruits and we follow a number of these as they go about training. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. We have two females who enter the programme for the first time in Darkhaven history – so as you can imagine that causes something of a stir and it was very interesting to observe their interaction with the other recruits and each other. I really like what the author achieves here. We follow these recruits and sometimes we are also in the head of the assassin – but we never know who it is – particularly as there is another new character introduced at the same time. An alchemist who is assisting Alya with her experimentation. Of course it’s easy to jump to conclusions but I think the author does an excellent job of maintaining the secrecy right up to the point that the assassination is about to go down.
What I particularly liked about Goldenfire: I thought Alya grows more as a character. She understands a little more of the difficulty of keeping control and the difficulties involved in ruling Darkhaven. At the same time she has greatly improved in terms of her own confidence and abilities and is able to maintain a loving relationship with Tomas – although she’s very cool towards the nephew that they are both now raising. You can forgive her a little for her coolness because she still mourns her brother and seeing his son everyday is something of a huge reminder. I liked that we find a little bit more about the background of Darkhaven and in particular the city itself and how it came to be built. I thought the introduction of alchemy to help Alya discover more about her latent talents was also a great move.
The other thing that really stood out for me was the pace. The story kicks off with a great start and from there onwards maintains a very steady pace really picking up the momentum in the last few chapters.
In terms of criticisms – well, the only thing that does occur to me is how well one person could really be relied upon to protect the City? I mean, obviously there is an army, but for the most part everyone seems to think Alya is the main form of protection and whilst her ‘other’ form is very strong – there’s only one of her. I don’t really understand that particular aspect, especially now times are moving forward, we’ve already seen the threat of guns and there’s no denying that Darkhaven is under threat from it’s neighbours. It feels like the City needs to evolve and move with the times if it’s to prevent downfall.
Other than the above minor quibble I thought this was a really entertaining read. I found myself really caring for the characters and I enjoyed the introduction of the recruits and watching their development. On top of this we get to watch Sorrow’s exploits – and she’s always very entertaining and, of course, we have the shapeshifting – don’t let’s forget the flying unicorn in all this!
Again, I think this is a perfect set up for the next in series and I really look forward to seeing where the author takes us next.
I received a copy of Goldenfire through the publishers courtesy of Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Very strong four. Highly enjoyable second in series.
Goldenfire is the second in the Darkhaven series by A F E Smith. This was a great second book in series, I really enjoyed it, in fact on reflection I think it surpassed the first in terms of growth of characters and world building.
Darkhaven is, and has always been, ruled by the Nightshades – a family that through the generations has been able to shapeshift. Unfortunately over the years the Nightshade line has diminished leaving the City in a vulnerable position in terms of those who would seek to make war.
A quick note: I will try to avoid spoilers for book No.1 but undoubtedly they will creep into this review so please be aware of that if you haven’t yet started the series.
At the start of Goldenfire Ayla has been ruling Darkhaven for three years. She’s more confident in her abilities now and the relationship she shares with Tomas Caraway, her ‘hero’ from book No.1 and now Captain of the Helm, is a tentative but happy one. However, their tranquility is about to be upset. An assassination plot has come to light and given the discovery (from the first book) of a weapon that can harm the Nightshades this threat needs to be taken very seriously.
The story this time breaks down into a number of strands. We have Tomas rushing around trying to cover every base in terms of threat. Ayla is spending time trying to increase her own fighting prowess and also looking into further ways to protect herself using alchemy. We have the reintroduction of Sorrow, an assassin and sellsword who is working for a member of the Brotherhood – a secretive, powerful and very dangerous group of individuals. And then we have a number of new recruits who have signed up for Helms training and are being put through their paces. I confess that I loved this aspect of the story.
Fairly early on in the story we are introduced to the assassin – or at least when I say introduced, we are made a party to the assassin being sent to kill Alya. What we are not told is that person’s identity.
At the same time we then make the acquaintance of the latest recruits and we follow a number of these as they go about training. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. We have two females who enter the programme for the first time in Darkhaven history – so as you can imagine that causes something of a stir and it was very interesting to observe their interaction with the other recruits and each other. I really like what the author achieves here. We follow these recruits and sometimes we are also in the head of the assassin – but we never know who it is – particularly as there is another new character introduced at the same time. An alchemist who is assisting Alya with her experimentation. Of course it’s easy to jump to conclusions but I think the author does an excellent job of maintaining the secrecy right up to the point that the assassination is about to go down.
What I particularly liked about Goldenfire: I thought Alya grows more as a character. She understands a little more of the difficulty of keeping control and the difficulties involved in ruling Darkhaven. At the same time she has greatly improved in terms of her own confidence and abilities and is able to maintain a loving relationship with Tomas – although she’s very cool towards the nephew that they are both now raising. You can forgive her a little for her coolness because she still mourns her brother and seeing his son everyday is something of a huge reminder. I liked that we find a little bit more about the background of Darkhaven and in particular the city itself and how it came to be built. I thought the introduction of alchemy to help Alya discover more about her latent talents was also a great move.
The other thing that really stood out for me was the pace. The story kicks off with a great start and from there onwards maintains a very steady pace really picking up the momentum in the last few chapters.
In terms of criticisms – well, the only thing that does occur to me is how well one person could really be relied upon to protect the City? I mean, obviously there is an army, but for the most part everyone seems to think Alya is the main form of protection and whilst her ‘other’ form is very strong – there’s only one of her. I don’t really understand that particular aspect, especially now times are moving forward, we’ve already seen the threat of guns and there’s no denying that Darkhaven is under threat from it’s neighbours. It feels like the City needs to evolve and move with the times if it’s to prevent downfall.
Other than the above minor quibble I thought this was a really entertaining read. I found myself really caring for the characters and I enjoyed the introduction of the recruits and watching their development. On top of this we get to watch Sorrow’s exploits – and she’s always very entertaining and, of course, we have the shapeshifting – don’t let’s forget the flying unicorn in all this!
Again, I think this is a perfect set up for the next in series and I really look forward to seeing where the author takes us next.
I received a copy of Goldenfire through the publishers courtesy of Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
January 26, 2016
"Goldenfire" the second exciting and imaginative book in A.F.E. Smith's "Darkhaven" fantasy series begins three years into Ayla Nightshade's rule. With Tomas Caraway by her side making changes to the Helm ( the protectors of the Nightshade line) the land of Mirrorvale seems to be at peace, but that's an illusion especially when an organization in Sol Kardis is scheming and has sent an assassin to kill Ayla with the one weapon that can harm the powerful shapeshifter.
Threads of this well-written and intoxicating plot follow not only Tomas Caraway's struggle to uncover the identity of the assassin; Ayla's work with the alchemist Miles Tarantel to find a way to make herself less vulnerable to attack; Neave Sorrow's spy mission in Sol Kardis; but also the inclusion of females in the Helm's training program. The story is fast-paced and action-packed, heating up when an influx of pistols appear in Arkannen and with the news of a Kardisan scheme called "Goldenfire" to kill Ayla and cause chaos in Mirrorvale. As the tension and suspense mount keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, events unfold that move progressively towards an explosive conclusion at the end of a story that resonates with themes of mercy and second chances.
In this novel the romance between Ayla and Tomas becomes topsy- turvy because of her past; being isolated by her controlling father in Darkhaven for eighteen years. Consumed by the fear of having her movements restricted by the over-protectiveness of the man she loves, Ayla rebels against his wishes when she thinks the assassin's been caught, endangering her nephew Malone and his nurse. Similarly, her defiance undermines Tomas's confidence in his ability, and escalates his fear of not being able to save her. Struggling against inner demons that could undermine their love, Ayla also has to come to terms with her feelings for Myrren's son, the child she agreed to love and keep safe.
The characters with all their imperfections and faults are unforgettable as they struggle against an unseen force that wants to eliminate the Nightshade line. Ayla who has found happiness with Tomas can be cold, haughty and obstinate when she doesn't get her way. Yet as the story progresses she's not only resilient but astute in recognizing the repercussions of her bad choices. Tomas Caraway is straightforward, proficient and a highly respected leader who's admired by the Helm, although fear of failure continues to plague him. Of the new faces who add zest, high-energy and excitement to the drama Zander (aka Alezzandro Lepont) is charming, bright and secretive; Penn Avens blunt and prickly; Farleight arrogant and boastful; Ree an ambitious loner; and Saydi an engaging but enigmatic flirt.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Goldenfire" the second book in a series that gets more enthralling with each new crisis Ayla and Tomas have to face. I rate it highly and can't wait to see where A.F.E. Smith takes the story next.
Threads of this well-written and intoxicating plot follow not only Tomas Caraway's struggle to uncover the identity of the assassin; Ayla's work with the alchemist Miles Tarantel to find a way to make herself less vulnerable to attack; Neave Sorrow's spy mission in Sol Kardis; but also the inclusion of females in the Helm's training program. The story is fast-paced and action-packed, heating up when an influx of pistols appear in Arkannen and with the news of a Kardisan scheme called "Goldenfire" to kill Ayla and cause chaos in Mirrorvale. As the tension and suspense mount keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, events unfold that move progressively towards an explosive conclusion at the end of a story that resonates with themes of mercy and second chances.
In this novel the romance between Ayla and Tomas becomes topsy- turvy because of her past; being isolated by her controlling father in Darkhaven for eighteen years. Consumed by the fear of having her movements restricted by the over-protectiveness of the man she loves, Ayla rebels against his wishes when she thinks the assassin's been caught, endangering her nephew Malone and his nurse. Similarly, her defiance undermines Tomas's confidence in his ability, and escalates his fear of not being able to save her. Struggling against inner demons that could undermine their love, Ayla also has to come to terms with her feelings for Myrren's son, the child she agreed to love and keep safe.
The characters with all their imperfections and faults are unforgettable as they struggle against an unseen force that wants to eliminate the Nightshade line. Ayla who has found happiness with Tomas can be cold, haughty and obstinate when she doesn't get her way. Yet as the story progresses she's not only resilient but astute in recognizing the repercussions of her bad choices. Tomas Caraway is straightforward, proficient and a highly respected leader who's admired by the Helm, although fear of failure continues to plague him. Of the new faces who add zest, high-energy and excitement to the drama Zander (aka Alezzandro Lepont) is charming, bright and secretive; Penn Avens blunt and prickly; Farleight arrogant and boastful; Ree an ambitious loner; and Saydi an engaging but enigmatic flirt.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Goldenfire" the second book in a series that gets more enthralling with each new crisis Ayla and Tomas have to face. I rate it highly and can't wait to see where A.F.E. Smith takes the story next.
January 29, 2016
TL;DR - as good as the first one!
I wasn't quite up to 3am again but I did bury myself in this! I could not stop reading; I had to keep turning the (metaphorical) page. There's plots, assassins, love, loss, drama, learning...the pace of the plot was excellent and kept me gripped; I didn't guess the twist either! I seem to be nicely in the dark with twists on the last few books I've read. Goldenfire is a book that tugs at your heartstrings and fires you up - and then brings everything nicely together, with a faint hope that there will be another book to continue the story...
There's a nice mix of old and new characters; some are familiar faces and some are complete newbies, but Smith does a wonderful job of making them all grow and develop - even the bit-parts feel well-rounded. Caraway is a wonderful, conflicted and interesting character; Ayla is slightly relegated, but I found I didn't mind this as she was very much the focus of the first book. It's adorable to see Bryn and Miles' relationship, and the new recruits are all sketched with such well-done strokes that we see their personalities despite the relatively small amount of information we have on some. Naeve and Elisse come back, and I loved Elisse's development - she's a character who is always slightly on the sidelines but continues to change despite that, and I love it.
In terms of writing style, it's as beautiful as Darkhaven; and overall, it's just a pleasurable, exciting and easy read...well, I shouldn't really say easy. You'll need to block out enough time to read it as you won't want to put it down!
I wasn't quite up to 3am again but I did bury myself in this! I could not stop reading; I had to keep turning the (metaphorical) page. There's plots, assassins, love, loss, drama, learning...the pace of the plot was excellent and kept me gripped; I didn't guess the twist either! I seem to be nicely in the dark with twists on the last few books I've read. Goldenfire is a book that tugs at your heartstrings and fires you up - and then brings everything nicely together, with a faint hope that there will be another book to continue the story...
There's a nice mix of old and new characters; some are familiar faces and some are complete newbies, but Smith does a wonderful job of making them all grow and develop - even the bit-parts feel well-rounded. Caraway is a wonderful, conflicted and interesting character; Ayla is slightly relegated, but I found I didn't mind this as she was very much the focus of the first book. It's adorable to see Bryn and Miles' relationship, and the new recruits are all sketched with such well-done strokes that we see their personalities despite the relatively small amount of information we have on some. Naeve and Elisse come back, and I loved Elisse's development - she's a character who is always slightly on the sidelines but continues to change despite that, and I love it.
In terms of writing style, it's as beautiful as Darkhaven; and overall, it's just a pleasurable, exciting and easy read...well, I shouldn't really say easy. You'll need to block out enough time to read it as you won't want to put it down!
January 25, 2016
Originally posted on http://mikkysworldofbooks.blogspot.ro...
Darkhaven, 3 years later
Ayla Nightshade has been through so much and fought so many battles to take her right place as a ruler of Darkhaven.
She’s revered and feared while she’s trying to keep together a kingdom that was never meant to be hers.
The enemies are willing to do anything to remove her permanently and, now, they seem to have found the perfect weapon.
No one can be trusted and, until the hired assassin is found, Ayla is confined to her castle where she’s safer than anywhere else.
But, the mysteries haven’t all been solved and there are still secrets that will resurface, bringing more danger to an already dire situation.
Help will come from an unlikely ally who no one expected to step in and offer support.
This ranks among my favorite fantasy recently published series.
AFE Smith takes the readers on a journey in a world of fantasy where nothing is really what it seems, there’s a new mystery at every corner and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge from beginning to end.
The writing style is really good making the story fast-paced and easy to follow.
I highly recommend Darkhaven to everyone who’s looking for a good Fantasy.
Just keep in mind that you have to start with volume one or it won’t make much sense and you won’t be able to enjoy the novels as you should.
Happy Reading!!
Darkhaven, 3 years later
Ayla Nightshade has been through so much and fought so many battles to take her right place as a ruler of Darkhaven.
She’s revered and feared while she’s trying to keep together a kingdom that was never meant to be hers.
The enemies are willing to do anything to remove her permanently and, now, they seem to have found the perfect weapon.
No one can be trusted and, until the hired assassin is found, Ayla is confined to her castle where she’s safer than anywhere else.
But, the mysteries haven’t all been solved and there are still secrets that will resurface, bringing more danger to an already dire situation.
Help will come from an unlikely ally who no one expected to step in and offer support.
This ranks among my favorite fantasy recently published series.
AFE Smith takes the readers on a journey in a world of fantasy where nothing is really what it seems, there’s a new mystery at every corner and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge from beginning to end.
The writing style is really good making the story fast-paced and easy to follow.
I highly recommend Darkhaven to everyone who’s looking for a good Fantasy.
Just keep in mind that you have to start with volume one or it won’t make much sense and you won’t be able to enjoy the novels as you should.
Happy Reading!!
January 27, 2016
Three years after Ayla Nightshade has inherited the throne to Darkhaven, trouble is brewing on all fronts. Ayla is finally more confident in her ability to change into her shapeshifter form, and taking care of everyday affairs for her kingdom. Tomas has been reinstated as the Captain of the Helm and has begun training new recruits. However, with the beginning of training comes a threat against Ayla herself, Tomas and the other shifters alive, Ayla’s nephew and brother. With the help of Tomas, Miles, Sorrow and some new recruits, Ayla will find a way to stop the assassin and bring some peace back to Darkhaven.
I loved jumping back into the world of Darkhaven with Ayla and Tomas. From the beginning, I could tell that Ayla has grown in confidence within herself and her changer form and I loved when she took charge using her brains and brawn. I’m glad that Ayla got to discover more about her form with Miles. The recruitment and Helm training was also interesting to learn about and I like that more of the Fifth ring was explored. The new recruits and the mystery assassin add danger and excitement. Ree quickly became another favourite strong female character and I can see her and Ayla becoming quite a team. I really hope that there will be more adventures in this fun, epic, and well-developed fantasy world of Darkhaven.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I loved jumping back into the world of Darkhaven with Ayla and Tomas. From the beginning, I could tell that Ayla has grown in confidence within herself and her changer form and I loved when she took charge using her brains and brawn. I’m glad that Ayla got to discover more about her form with Miles. The recruitment and Helm training was also interesting to learn about and I like that more of the Fifth ring was explored. The new recruits and the mystery assassin add danger and excitement. Ree quickly became another favourite strong female character and I can see her and Ayla becoming quite a team. I really hope that there will be more adventures in this fun, epic, and well-developed fantasy world of Darkhaven.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
April 28, 2016
Another great read in this series!
It's been a few years since the events of Darkhaven, and with the discovery that changers can be hurt, other countries are looking to exploit this weakness. Ayla, now ruler of Darkhaven, is targeted for assassination, and a group of aspiring new recruits to the Helm (bodyguards to the Nightshade line) are caught up in the plot - or rather plots, because some of these recruits have their own agenda.
The setting continues to expand, with some revelations about the origin of the Nightshade line and Darkhaven itself, and our first view of one of the neighbouring countries. It seems obvious that the author understands her world clearly and is revealing the details as required by the plot, rather than making them up as she goes. Characterisation is still excellent, with each character drawn quickly and effectively, and having their own personality come through the words on the page.
The only downside is that because the cast has now expanded, it was sometimes a while before we got back to what was going on in other parts of the city, but that's unavoidable when dealing with a larger group - and we're still nowhere near 'A Song of Ice and Fire' levels, where characters disappear for a book and a half.
Highly recommended and I'm looking forward to the next volume.
It's been a few years since the events of Darkhaven, and with the discovery that changers can be hurt, other countries are looking to exploit this weakness. Ayla, now ruler of Darkhaven, is targeted for assassination, and a group of aspiring new recruits to the Helm (bodyguards to the Nightshade line) are caught up in the plot - or rather plots, because some of these recruits have their own agenda.
The setting continues to expand, with some revelations about the origin of the Nightshade line and Darkhaven itself, and our first view of one of the neighbouring countries. It seems obvious that the author understands her world clearly and is revealing the details as required by the plot, rather than making them up as she goes. Characterisation is still excellent, with each character drawn quickly and effectively, and having their own personality come through the words on the page.
The only downside is that because the cast has now expanded, it was sometimes a while before we got back to what was going on in other parts of the city, but that's unavoidable when dealing with a larger group - and we're still nowhere near 'A Song of Ice and Fire' levels, where characters disappear for a book and a half.
Highly recommended and I'm looking forward to the next volume.
January 17, 2016
I enjoyed this one even more than the first. We get a whole new set of characters in addition to the main characters, and various sub-plots. Goldenfire was filled with even more mystery and intrigue surrounding a looming assassination attempt and even though I had again figured out who the culprit was, the events leading up to it was very interesting and kept me glued to the pages.
The author's writing style makes for a fast-paced read and is not weighed down with unnecessary or cumbersome descriptions.
I loved the characters and my favourite is Naeve Sorrow the sellsword. I am very curious about her and hope to seee more of her in the next book.
Overall, a really awesome, smooth flowing, well paced fantasy with interesting, well developed character which makes for an entertaining , page-turning read. I really liked it and recommend it highly to fantasy lovers.
The author's writing style makes for a fast-paced read and is not weighed down with unnecessary or cumbersome descriptions.
I loved the characters and my favourite is Naeve Sorrow the sellsword. I am very curious about her and hope to seee more of her in the next book.
Overall, a really awesome, smooth flowing, well paced fantasy with interesting, well developed character which makes for an entertaining , page-turning read. I really liked it and recommend it highly to fantasy lovers.
January 17, 2016
I had this one on preorder. I had forgotten a little bit about what happened in the first but soon got up to speed and really enjoyed it. There are some great new characters, plenty of women doing interesting things and likeable people withe believable flaws which I always think is key for my enjoyment of a book. Plus a clever plot that keeps you guessing and great writing with not a typo in sight. All in all another excllenet read which cemented my interest in this author.
PS forgot to mention I continue to be pleased with the LGBT characters in these books. LOVE Miles and Bryan :)
PS forgot to mention I continue to be pleased with the LGBT characters in these books. LOVE Miles and Bryan :)
July 20, 2017
Definitely better than the first book, this does suffer from the same underwhelming treatment of its female characters. Ayla is back struggling against ruling the country while *gasp* being a woman. Ree gets to struggle with trying to join the Helm while *gasp* being a woman. In some ways, this feels like fantasy from 20 years ago, where the idea of female integration might still have been fresh. But when you look at the rest of the diverse landscape of fantasy out there, the treatment here feels regressive. Kameron Hurley's Worldbreaker Saga is a great example of writing strong female characters in a world in which their struggle to be recognized is not their only challenge. But this is a fun enough read and as mentioned in the review of the previously novel, adds a bunch more depth to the world building. It still feels a bit shallow plotwise, but I think that is intentional, so that each book in the series can really stand on its own.
May 10, 2017
much better then the first book
the story flows better
twist are as awesome as the first book
the story flows better
twist are as awesome as the first book
Read
April 11, 2021Really enjoyed this book. Loved the author's style
Looking forward to reading more from her
Looking forward to reading more from her
October 16, 2016
I gave the first book in this series five stars, and was eager for the second. Although I didn't enjoy it quite as much, for reasons I'll explore shortly, it's certainly very good and I don't hesitate to recommend it.
Once again, it was impeccably edited; I didn't notice a single error, which is vanishingly rare. I'm lucky if I find one or two books in a hundred where I don't see any errors at all.
The first book managed to juggle seven point-of-view characters, by my count; gave them all distinct arcs; and pulled it off successfully. It also successfully wound a mystery plot, three different romance plots, and a thriller plot closely together, and paid them all off at the end. This book, I felt, was less successful, in part because the characters and plots were not so tightly wound together.
There's still a mystery/thriller plot, which involves an assassin whose identity (and gender) is withheld from the reader for most of the book, with several candidates presented. I did eventually guess the correct one, but not until late in the story. Paradoxically, this single main plotline (with a couple of minor plots involving characters' relationships and some coming-of-age) feels more diffuse than the multiple plot threads in the first book - partly, perhaps, because one of the participants is physically distant, out of the city that was the setting of everything in the first book, and with not much communication with the other viewpoint characters.
Of the seven viewpoint characters in the first book, two are now dead; one doesn't figure in this book (a pity, because I liked her, but I can see where she wasn't needed for this plot); one is still a significant character, but not a viewpoint character' and the remaining three still have viewpoints. In addition, there's the viewpoint of the assassin, and a group of trainees for the Helm elite guard, of whom, by my count, four are major characters, and two of those have viewpoints. There's also another viewpoint character, the training master, who appeared in a minor role in the first book, and another important character, the training master's partner, who doesn't have a viewpoint (mainly in order to preserve the mystery about who the assassin is). So, unless I've miscounted, still seven viewpoint characters, plus four other characters whose actions are significant to the plot but whose viewpoints we don't see into. True, one is the assassin, whose viewpoint we do see, but we don't find out which one until late, so that character almost counts as two: the assassin, who we hear from, but with minimal depth of information in order to preserve the mystery; and the assassin's cover persona, who we only see through the eyes of other characters.
Unlike the first book, where each character had a very different arc, here two of the ten important characters have very similar motivations, though they do resolve them differently.
Having more characters, some of whom don't have viewpoints, some of whom don't have much direct interaction with the others, and two of whom are very similarly motivated, yielded, for me, a less involving story than the first book, where we had deeper insight into a smaller number of characters, all of whose motivations and choices centred around a single set of events from different angles. I can see how this setup was necessary in order to create the mystery around the assassin's identity and provide some red herrings, and that was well done, but I still enjoyed it a little less.
I'm still keen for the third book, and glad to hear that it's now with the publisher. I'll be watching for it to come out.
Once again, it was impeccably edited; I didn't notice a single error, which is vanishingly rare. I'm lucky if I find one or two books in a hundred where I don't see any errors at all.
The first book managed to juggle seven point-of-view characters, by my count; gave them all distinct arcs; and pulled it off successfully. It also successfully wound a mystery plot, three different romance plots, and a thriller plot closely together, and paid them all off at the end. This book, I felt, was less successful, in part because the characters and plots were not so tightly wound together.
There's still a mystery/thriller plot, which involves an assassin whose identity (and gender) is withheld from the reader for most of the book, with several candidates presented. I did eventually guess the correct one, but not until late in the story. Paradoxically, this single main plotline (with a couple of minor plots involving characters' relationships and some coming-of-age) feels more diffuse than the multiple plot threads in the first book - partly, perhaps, because one of the participants is physically distant, out of the city that was the setting of everything in the first book, and with not much communication with the other viewpoint characters.
Of the seven viewpoint characters in the first book, two are now dead; one doesn't figure in this book (a pity, because I liked her, but I can see where she wasn't needed for this plot); one is still a significant character, but not a viewpoint character' and the remaining three still have viewpoints. In addition, there's the viewpoint of the assassin, and a group of trainees for the Helm elite guard, of whom, by my count, four are major characters, and two of those have viewpoints. There's also another viewpoint character, the training master, who appeared in a minor role in the first book, and another important character, the training master's partner, who doesn't have a viewpoint (mainly in order to preserve the mystery about who the assassin is). So, unless I've miscounted, still seven viewpoint characters, plus four other characters whose actions are significant to the plot but whose viewpoints we don't see into. True, one is the assassin, whose viewpoint we do see, but we don't find out which one until late, so that character almost counts as two: the assassin, who we hear from, but with minimal depth of information in order to preserve the mystery; and the assassin's cover persona, who we only see through the eyes of other characters.
Unlike the first book, where each character had a very different arc, here two of the ten important characters have very similar motivations, though they do resolve them differently.
Having more characters, some of whom don't have viewpoints, some of whom don't have much direct interaction with the others, and two of whom are very similarly motivated, yielded, for me, a less involving story than the first book, where we had deeper insight into a smaller number of characters, all of whose motivations and choices centred around a single set of events from different angles. I can see how this setup was necessary in order to create the mystery around the assassin's identity and provide some red herrings, and that was well done, but I still enjoyed it a little less.
I'm still keen for the third book, and glad to hear that it's now with the publisher. I'll be watching for it to come out.
September 2, 2016
The tension within Goldenfire builds steadily, developing into a very exciting climax. It's a smashing sequel to Darkhaven.
Goldenfire uses an assassination plot targeting Ayla, and a group of new trainees for the Helm, as the setting to explore some characters' prejudices against women (and some extent foreigners). These themes are explored with intelligence, compassion, and a good dose of dark humour.
Characters introduced in Darkhaven (Ayla, Caraway and Bryan) play significant roles in this book, and consequently become well developed. There are touching domestic scenes between Ayla and Caraway, which show how their relationship has grown. However, this is put under pressure by their working relationship, Ayla's grief about Myrren, and her inability to bond with Myrren's son (who Caraway gets on well with). Bryan plays a much more significant role in this book than Darkhaven. We're introduced to his partner, Miles, and as a couple as well as individually they provide plenty of humour.
Using the selection/training of recruits to the Helm allows new characters to be brought in, as well as showing more of Darkhaven. The new recruits are portrayed realistically (struggling to find their own way, and become accepted by their peers), and seeing their progress and friendships grow is very entertaining. The focus is on Ree, potentially the first woman to be accepted into the Helm. Watching her cope with the issues created by the other recruits, combined with her own preconceptions kept me hooked.
Darkhaven's relationship with one of her neighbours (Sol Kardise) is developed in more detail in this book, and conflicts which may materialise between them in the third book are foreshadowed. Sol Kardise seems a particularly corrupt, opaque country (ruled by proxy) and actively aggressive. This is tied into the development/progression of new weaponry which may start putting the civilian population at risk.
Goldenfire uses an assassination plot targeting Ayla, and a group of new trainees for the Helm, as the setting to explore some characters' prejudices against women (and some extent foreigners). These themes are explored with intelligence, compassion, and a good dose of dark humour.
Characters introduced in Darkhaven (Ayla, Caraway and Bryan) play significant roles in this book, and consequently become well developed. There are touching domestic scenes between Ayla and Caraway, which show how their relationship has grown. However, this is put under pressure by their working relationship, Ayla's grief about Myrren, and her inability to bond with Myrren's son (who Caraway gets on well with). Bryan plays a much more significant role in this book than Darkhaven. We're introduced to his partner, Miles, and as a couple as well as individually they provide plenty of humour.
Using the selection/training of recruits to the Helm allows new characters to be brought in, as well as showing more of Darkhaven. The new recruits are portrayed realistically (struggling to find their own way, and become accepted by their peers), and seeing their progress and friendships grow is very entertaining. The focus is on Ree, potentially the first woman to be accepted into the Helm. Watching her cope with the issues created by the other recruits, combined with her own preconceptions kept me hooked.
Darkhaven's relationship with one of her neighbours (Sol Kardise) is developed in more detail in this book, and conflicts which may materialise between them in the third book are foreshadowed. Sol Kardise seems a particularly corrupt, opaque country (ruled by proxy) and actively aggressive. This is tied into the development/progression of new weaponry which may start putting the civilian population at risk.
April 12, 2016
The story is told switching around to different things happening is one of my favorite techniques ever since reading Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. All in all I would recommend you read this book series. Read Darkhaven, Read Goldenfire, read them both. It's fantasy with a hint of a long ago, far away time meets page turning mystery. It has a satisfying ending and promise of more conflict on the horizon with the introduction of firearms to a world unaccustomed to the weapon.
See my full review at:
http://www.girl-who-reads.com/2016/04...
See my full review at:
http://www.girl-who-reads.com/2016/04...
October 17, 2016
Review to come...
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews